Anthony (Antonio) de Francisci (; July 13, 1887 – August 20, 1964) was an Italian-American sculptor who designed a number of United States coins and medals. His most famous design was the Peace Dollar, which was first minted in 1921.Van Allen, Leroy C. and A. George Mallis. Comprehensive Catalogue and Encyclopedia of U.S. Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars, 2d ed. (New York: Arco Publishing Company, Inc., 1977), 264.
Early life and training De Francisci immigrated to the United States in 1905U.S. Immigration Service. List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival (Ship Manifest), Immigration Service Form 1500 B. S.S. Sicilian sailing from Napoli on November 16, 1905, and arriving in Port of New York on December 1, 1905. American Family Immigration History Center (Ellis Island Archives) posted this manifest online at www.ellisisland.org. and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1913.Marotta, Michael E. "The Peace Dollar" , Coin-Gallery Online website, 2000. Accessed September 3, 2007. He was the son of Benedetto de Francisci and Maria Liberante and was married to Mary Teresa Cafarelli.Peace Dollar Model Had Special Claim to Fame De Francisci "studied under some very fine coin designers: Fraser, MacNeil, and Weinman."Hagans, William. "A Man of Many Hats", Coins, February 2000, 77.
Career De Francisci served as an Academician of the National Academy of Design and a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society.The Hall of Fame for Great Americans. Artist Biography in the Cooper Medal booklet, circa 1964.
Works
Peace Dollar
Late in 1921, the Commission of Fine Arts held a competition for the design of a new silver dollar and invited "eight prominent sculptors to participate."LaMarre, Tom. "The Dollar Daze of 1921", Coins, October 1999, 56–57. Several of the entrants had already designed U.S. coins and achieved considerable fame. Although the youngest participant and a novice coin designer, de Francisci "won the competition and took home the $1,500 cash prize." Regarding this event, "The Dec. 20, 1920, issue of the Baltimore Sun reported…'Eight medalists, all of them from New York, were in the competition for the award. The designs in bas-relief were exhibited privately in the office of [Mint Director Raymond T. Baker], after he had shown the winning one to President Harding. The President expressed his pleasure and approval.'" Becoming the designer of the Peace Dollar and receiving considerable publicity as a result of this accomplishment greatly boosted the reputation of de Francisci, taking his career to a whole new level.
De Francisci used his wife Mary Teresa as the model for the Liberty head of the Peace Dollar. When asked about its design, de Francisci "told a newspaper columnist that the portrait was not a 'photograph' of Mrs. de Francisci but was a 'composite' face that 'typified something of America'" De Francisci also said about the design of the Peace Dollar "that his goal was to capture the spirit of the country--its intellectual speed, vigor and vitality."
Other works De Francisci sculpted the commemorative 1920 Maine Centennial half dollar.Howe, Marvine. "Teresa De Francisci, Miss Liberty Model For Coin, Dies at 92", The New York Times, October 21, 1990. Accessed on November 26, 2007. Also, de Francisci designed the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button, unofficially known as the "ruptured duck." The button was intended for wear as a lapel pin on civilian clothing to recognize military service. However, the military did not issue the button. Instead, it was available by private purchase.
He modelled the bronze high reliefsDe Francisci's models were cast by the most prominent bronze foundry of the Beaux-Arts period, Roman Bronze Works, New York. of the drum base of the Sesquicentennial flagpoleIt serves as well as a memorial of Tammany Hall leader Charles Francis Murphy (1858–1924). erected in Union Square, New York, in 1924The WPA Guide to New York City 1939:202. and dedicated, July 4, 1926, to mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The architect for the project was Perry Coke Smith. Starting from the rear, the effects of liberty, rendered as the march of progress in the arts, crafts and sciences of civilization is represented by figures that move towards the Declaration of Independence reproduced on a tablet at front center, while on the right, the effects of tyranny, in which fleeing humanity avidly reach for it.
Selected works Name DateNotesAdolph Alexander Weinman Portrait Plaque1915De Francisci made this tribute to his mentor WeinmanMaine Centennial commemorative Half Dollar1920National Guard Bureau Insignia1921for Department of DefensePeace Dollar1921Alessandro L. Chiostergi Portrait Plaque1922James Douglas Gold Medal1922 (abt.)For American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum EngineersAmerican Eagle Pin1922 (abt.)Texas Cavalry Medal192412th issue, Fiat Vita1935The Society of Medalists seriesHonorable Service Lapel Button1939Congressional Gold Medal to George C. Marshall1946 Congressional Gold Medal to General Pershing1946Inaugural medal for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair1964Texas Ranger Congressional MedalLincoln Medal1963Hall of Fame for Great Americans medal seriesCooper Medal1964Hall of Fame for Great Americans medal seriesAlfred P. Sloan Radio-TV AwardAward for distinguished public service in highway safety
Later life De Francisci was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.
Awards Saltus Award, 1927 Lindsey Morris award, 1932 Widener Gold Medal, 1938
Notes
External links
"Antonio de Francisci - The Veteran's Engraver". Excellent background on Anthony de Francisci. Artist Anthony de Francisci. Anthony de Francisci featured on Smithsonian American Art Museum website. Includes examples of his work preserved at the Smithsonian Institution. "The Peace Dollar" (includes a biography)